Ed-Flex Program: Increase in Flexibility Useful but Limited by Scope of Waiver211 Authority. Statement of Carlotta C. Joyner, Director Education and Employment 211 Issues, Health, Education and Human Services Division

摘要

Every Federal education program has requirements with which states, local school211u001edistricts, or both must comply in implementing the program. However, the Health, 211u001eEducation, and Human Services division, found out that some programs impose 211u001erelatively few requirements on state and local officials, while other programs 211u001eare more restrictive. The Department of Education can waive certain federal 211u001erequirements under the Education Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Program 211u001e(Ed-Flex). The department delegates some of its waiver authority to the Ed-Flex 211u001estates. That is, in both Ed-Flex and non-Ed-Flex states, districts and schools 211u001emay be granted an exemption from federal requirements for a given period of time. 211u001eThe ED-Flex is a useful tool for achieving flexibility and promoting educational 211u001ereform efforts even though it does not address many of the key concerns about 211u001eimplementing federal requirements due to the limited scope of its waiver 211u001eauthority. ED-flex creates challenges in holding districts accountable for the 211u001eresults of individual waivers and also in holding states, districts, and the 211u001eDepartment accountable for the results of federal programs that are affected by 211u001ethese waivers.